The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 275

Rainy weekend to put a closure to this intense, crazy and uncertain (a summary of the whole year, honestly) November. Pretty soon we'll start preparing the end-of-the-year lists and the holidays preparations (if we are able to do so). But for the time being, here's our latest TOP TEN JUKEBOX. A collection of exciting newbies alongside two Blog friends: the infallible Jetstream Pony and the return (yay for that!) of beloved Northern Portrait. Have a good weekend, and remember to join us at our Soundcloud page!

BloodBuzzed · Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 275

Direct links to 2020 Jukebox playlists

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Week 266  Week 267  Week 268  Week 269  Week 270  Week 271  Week 272  Week 273

Week 274 

Spanish Indie 23: suggesting the best national acts

Another round of stunning national discoveries! A trio of wonders who are in love with synths and keyboards but also with a very open-minded concept of pop. Enojy!

Murciano Total. Hailing from Molina de Segura, Murcia (of course) this peculiar band began in 2012, almost as a joke, under the nickname Lena y Sema, but behind the project are José Lozano, former member of Automatics and Universal Circus and his partner Elena Molina. First demos, appeared on lyric-video format surfaced that same year, igniting the buzz and grabbing the attention of our dear friends at El Genio Equivocado, who quickly signed them. With diverse collaborators from bands like El Estudiante Larry, Perro, The Yellow Melodies, Alex de Klaus&Kinski and even Jota from Los Planetas, the duo compiled their work on the limited cassette 'Demos 2012-2013' in December 2013. After a two-hours sold out 7" on early 2014, now we can enjoy their first album, 'Quereres y Dejenes' out since February. Vintage synthesised pop, devoted to OMD or Gary Numan, but with a genuine knack for melodies and twisted lyrics, also recalling the hunt for the perfect pop tune that make Murciano Total closer to national legends like Family. Cult band on the making.

Espiritusanto. Hailing from Madrid and formed around 2010, the origins of this quintet, now sextet, have to be traced from the ashes of the band Portonovo, as two of their founding members were part of that melancholic, moody pop group. Their first reference (all the forthcoming releases are self-released and name your price download at their bandcamp) arrived in January 2012 with the digital EP 'Nadar a Crol', which includes a version of 'I Give You Two Seconds to Entertain Me' from the great Northern Portrait, followed that April by 'No Volvamos Aquí Nunca, No Será tan Divertido' EP. Two more EPs had been released to date. In May 2013, 'Femenino/Masculino' and, in February 2014, 'El Fondo del Aire es Rojo'. Their intricate, lush and ambitious view of pop place Espiritusanto on a unique position within the national scene. Male/female vocals, noise pop with a kraut envelope, sweet dreampop with hints of a darkness... A whole pop experience you shouldn't miss.

Antiguo Régimen. Coming from Valencia, this quartet formed at the end of 2011, although their sharp post-punk sound got defined around September 2012. On February 2013 they released their debut 7" single 'La Formación de la Sombra' on Burka For Everybody / Discodrome / Flexidiscos, followed in April 2014 by their first LP, 'Política de tierra quemada'. Like a flawless record found on a long-time forgotten vault of the post-punk 80s here's the chill, icy and desperate sound. Echoes of The Sound, The Chameleons, The Wake or, going back to Spain, Fasenuova, Nudozurdo or Décima Víctima. Menace and mystery.

Best Records and EPs of the year 2013... so far

It's June, and like we did on previous years, it's time to take a look to what the year has offered so far in terms of music. Traditionally, I just make a list of the best songs. That will be ready within the next days, but for 2013 I have thought to "make it bigger" and also include a small list* with my favourite records and EPs of the year so far (all 2013' releases already available). Listed in alphabetical order (the proper best-of list will come at the end of the year). Just trying to recognize a bunch of great works!

Records and EPs of the year so far
A Farewell to Youth- When Nalda Became Punk
Bone & Arrow- Big Summer
Calendar Days- Dick Diver
Days I’ve Spent with You- Souvenir Stand
Early Fragments- Fear of Men
El Mundo Se Va a Acabar- Pauline en la Playa
For Those Who Wish to See the Glass Half Full- Slowness
Hard Times for Dreamers- Brothers in Law
Helen of Troy- Pale Spectres
Hummingbird- Local Natives
I Choo-choo-choose You- The Choo Choo Trains
If You Leave- Daughter
In Guards We Trust- Guards
La Guerra Mundial- Wiggum
My Middle Names- Northern Spies
Pretty Decent Swimmers- Northern Portrait
Ride Your Heart- Bleached
She Beats- Beaches
Silence Yourself- Savages
Silmi Island- Pia Fraus
Torres- Torres
Trouble Will Find Me- The National
True Hallucinations- Ex Cops
Waiting for Something to Happen- Veronica Falls
When You and I Were Very Young- Silver Screen

* Note: Still not listed properly Camera Obscura's "Desire Lines", The Pastels' "Slow Summits", Just Handshakes' "Say It", and The Very Most's "Just a Pup", unveiled yesterday.

"Pretty Decent Swimmers", Northern Portrait, jangle-pop champions

Pretty Decent Swimmers EP

Understatements or modesty are frequently virtues when we are talking about music (usually musicians or critics have serious problems of incontinence, delusions of grandeur or extra-huge ambitions). But I do have to complain here. Our favourite Danish band (along with The Raveonettes), Northern Portrait, is happily back with a new EP (a new record on the horizon too) entitled "Pretty Decent Swimmers", already available on the amazing Matinée Recordings. What an inappropriate, bad title this is!
 
Because if we are using the swimming reference with indiepop, they are nothing but Olympic Swimmers, not just pretty decent ones. They are the responsible of an incredible, mind-blowing debut album, "Criminal Art Lovers", plus a little collection of delicious EPs. And after hearing their new gorgeous four songs, they should be nicknamed the "Michael Phelps of jangle-pop"!

Come on, how many bands could return to action after three years with such a shimmering, joyful tune like opener "Happy Nice Day"? It starts unremarkable, but after 30 seconds the real song unleashes into n irresistible jangle-pop "beast". Stefan Larsen romantic voice, guitars ringing, a pulse that slows and rises like your heartbeat, a disarming chorus... all the essence of Northern Portrait summarized and perfected into a pop gem. Sure it will be up there among the best songs of the year (and I know we haven't finished January yet).

With such a great initial song, “Greetings From Paris”, pales by comparison on first listening. But that's a very unfair judgement for a subtler, more oblique and intimate number. Give the tune it's time and space, and it will show all its wonders: Larsen's graceful vocals, that guitar breaking in its middle section before the singer strikes back, that ridiculously simple end turning into a ridiculously affecting climax...

“Bon Voyage!” accelerates the tempo a bit, helped by ever-present guitars (this is jangle-pop folks) and looks, smells and of course sounds like a pop classic. What made The Smiths so immortal was that passion they brought to all of his parts: Morrissey's drama, melodies so unforgettable, guitars chiming or evoking known situations. Northern Portrait are capable of injecting that sort of magic to their tunes. Hear how they close the song. That piano...

We reach the end of the EP with “I Feel Even Better”, on which Larsen seems to step back a bit to let the music be on the forefront of the tune. Melody, together with the delicate arrangements are the guide here. With lyrics that are somewhere in between melancholy and the "first day of a new era", it might be the less the surprising of the lot, but it leaves the listener longing for me. Which is exactly what the best bands do. Northern Portrait add another unmissable reference to an immaculate career so far, could we be in front of the champions of jangle-pop? Have to see them live at the Madrid PopFest!!

SCORE: 7,75/10

Music to Look Forward to in 2013

New year ahead, new musical wishes! Like we did on 2011 here's our small summary of the releases/events we're looking forward to. A brief shortlist of the "music gifts" asked for 2013. 

1. To begin with, our particular Three Kings, three especially beloved bands of this blog that will have new releases in 2013. Tomorrow arrives "Pretty Decent Swimmers" new EP from the mighty indiepop force Northern Portrait. The Very Most announced few days ago on facebook that a new EP will follow this spring/summer (Jeremy Jensen has told me it will be even better than the great "Ununiversalizable Us", what a statement!). And finally, The Hi-Life Companion assures me 2013 will see their comeback after the wonderful "Say Yes!"
2. Two young bands that have me completely haunted and should offer their debut albums this year. Fear of Men and Let's Buy Happiness. Can't wait to hear the voices of Jessica Weiss and Sarah Hall in their new songs. Expectations couldn't be higher. 
3. More heavenly voices: Rose Elinor Dougall promised me she will have another record ready this year. Please make a Spanish tour too! And it's time for my dear Basia Bulat to come back too. 
4. Amor de Días and The Pastels on the same year? Yes! Pretty sure I'll see both bands live...  
5. Planning to attend March's Madrid Popfest. Dreaming to be part of Indietracks on July.
6. Third Primavera Sound Festival, of course. The chance of seeing Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Eels and Blur live for the first time there? What about The Shins? Well, the PS13's line-up deserves a post on its own... (coming very soon)
7. Three "big names" to end this list. First one, Phoenix have confirmed their return!
8. Second. Camera Obscura also has announced they are recording a new album. Too long without you Tracyanne...Can't wait for it...
9. And one to be confirmed, but evidence suggests (at least in my head) that 2013 should be the year of The National's follow-up to "High Violet". Need to say I'm dying for it?
10. And finally, the most personal and toughest wish: really hoping for a 2013 where this passion of mine (music, writing about music) becomes (or starts to) a profession...

Sure, there are many more out there, and many more that will be discovered. That's the amazing thing with music. What a year this can be!

New confirmations for Benicassim (FIB Festival) tomorrow. A wishlist

After too many days without news, Benicassim has announced that tomorrow they will reveal more names of their 2011 line-up.

My (short) wishlist for tomorrow 
(R.E.M.'s impossible dream aside)
The Decemberists 
The Divine Comedy: someone else would agree :)
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Dum Dum Girls
The Mynabirds 
Doves
Northern Portrait
Motorama
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Electrelane: they just announced they are back to play some summer gigs and festivals after three years!!


Let's see what happens tomorrow!